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Development of a computer system to support medication reviews in nursing homes

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Abstract

The frail elderly populations of nursing homes frequently use drugs and suffer from considerable comorbidities. Medication reviews are intended to support evidence based prescribing and optimise therapy. However, literature is still ambiguous regarding the optimal method and the effects of medication reviews. Innovative computerised systems may support the medication reviews in the future. We are developing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) that, independently of the prescribing software, continuously monitors all prescribed drugs while taking into account co-medication, laboratory-data and co-morbidities. The CDSS will be developed in five phases: (1) development of the computerised system, (2) development of the clinical rules, (3) validation of the CDSS, (4) randomised controlled trial, and (5) feasibility for implementation in different nursing homes. The clinical decision support system aims at supporting the traditional medication review.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Bjorn Winkens (Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University) for his contribution to this article.

Funding

SCREEN-study supported by a grant from ZonMw (the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, Grant number: 113101001).

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Orbis Medical Centre, Dr. H van der Hoffplein 1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands

    Hugo A. J. M. de Wit, Carlota Mestres Gonzalvo, Rob Janknegt & Paul-Hugo M. van der Kuy

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Kim P. G. M. Hurkens & Wubbo J. Mulder

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg/School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Frans R. Verhey

  4. Department of General Practice and Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jos M. G. A. Schols

Authors
  1. Hugo A. J. M. de Wit
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  2. Carlota Mestres Gonzalvo
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  3. Kim P. G. M. Hurkens
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  5. Rob Janknegt
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  7. Jos M. G. A. Schols
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  8. Paul-Hugo M. van der Kuy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hugo A. J. M. de Wit.

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de Wit, H.A.J.M., Mestres Gonzalvo, C., Hurkens, K.P.G.M. et al. Development of a computer system to support medication reviews in nursing homes. Int J Clin Pharm 35, 668–672 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-013-9827-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-013-9827-3

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